Embroidery machine



March' 10, 1936.

V. ZWICKER I EMBROIDERY MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1954 VERO/ ZW/CMF'A INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATS 7 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in embroidery machines and more particularly to devices for punching holes in the material to be embroidered.

The present embroidery machines are equipped with borers shaped somewhat like an awl but having a substantially square cross-section. The practice, when holes are desired in the material, is to advance the bore rail which carries the borers towards the material to be pierced. The bore rail must be advanced several times .and the operator necessarily depends on his skill and experience to determine when the holes are suitably made. The resultant holes, however, are not round inasmuch as the borers have the square cross-section mentioned and, therefore, the holes present ragged substantially square openings. The perimeters of the holes, when embroidered with the button-hole stitch used for this purpose, are, therefore, uneven in contour and. in the thickness of the embroidery. It is apparent, therefore, that starting with a bored hole of uneven contour the resultant embroidered opening must of necessity fall considerably short of the perfection sought.

The invention, therefore, contemplates the provision of means in an embroidery machine to bore or punch holes in material to be embroidered which are clean-cut, of the proper size and definitely round.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision, in an embroidery machine, of yieldably mounted punches, the cutting edges of which may be pressed against the material, and the punches then revolved around their axes so each punch completely shears a punching from the material, to provide a clean, round hole of definite size.

The invention further contemplates mounting the punches so they may be easily removed from the bore rail and readily interchanged with punches of greater or lesser size.

The invention also contemplates many other improvements and features such as providing means whereby the punchings may be cleared from the punch should it become clogged; providing a removable and easily replaceable shear plate; etc.

These and other objects of the invention and the means for their attainment will be more apparent from the following drawing, illustrating one embodiment by which the invention may be realized, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through an embroidery machine, the view being intimate to the bore rail, a punch and the means for rotating the punch.

Fig. 2 is a similar view at the time of shearing or punching a hole in the material.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational View as viewed from the rear of an embroidery machine showing a plurality of punches and power means to rotate them.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a punch illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a larger size punch adapted to be interchangeably mounted with the punch shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a detail view of a hanger plate.

Certain embroidery machines, in addition to t needle bar, shuttle holders, etc., are also equipped with a bore rail disposed slightly above and to the rear of the needle bar. It is believed that it is not here necessary to illustrate the various working elements of such machines since they are well known to persons skilled in this art. Inasmuch as the invention contemplates improved. punches to be carried by the bore rail, the present disclosure is therefore intimate to those parts directly pertaining to the invention.

The bore rail I0 is of the usual type and may be provided with means such as the screw seats i I each adapted to receive the threaded shank 12 of a mounting stud it. The end of the stud I3 is beveled as at M for reasons later apparent.

The stud i3 is preferably of round cross-section and is adapted to receive a punch l5. The punch is preferably cylindrical and provided with a coned end It terminating in a round cutting edge I. as at E8 so punchings may drop from the punch as they are pushed back by succeeding punchings. The coned end It is provided with a passage l9 communicating with the cut-out I8 and the wall of the passage is increasingly tapered from the cutting edge H to prevent undue packing of the punchings.

The end of the punch adjacent the bore rail is provided with means for retaining engagement with stud l3 and in this instance comprises the bayonet slot 20, the circumferential portion of which is engaged by the projection or pin 2| on the stud. A compression spring 22 is arranged between the bore rail and the end of the punch adjacent thereto so that normally the punch is projected outwardly as shown in Fig. 1.

Each punch is preferably provided with a projecting arm 23 adapted to be engaged by the pins 24 on the push rod 25 which is reciprocable The lower portion of the punch is cut away as by means of the eccentric 26 driven by the motor 21. The specific means for reciprocating the push rod 25 may be varied, the showing here being for illustration only.

The push rod 25 may be supported in any one of several ways. As here illustrated, one or more hanger plates 35 may be secured at 35 to the bore rail. Each of these plates may be provided with a channeled portion 31 in which the push rod may be nested so it can slide therein.

In not all instances is it feasible to provide the screw seats II in the bore rail and in order to not unduly weaken said rail, the studs l3 may be carried by the hangers 35. In this event the screw seats Ila, therein may be larger if necessary and may be positioned somewhat below the bore rail if desired. (Fig. 6).

The material, carried in the usual manner on a frame positioned by means of a pointer and pattern through the medium of a pantograph, is shown at M. Back of the material may be placed a shear plate 28 in the form of a fibre plug or the like for ready replacement.

When it is desired to punch holes in the material, the bore rail I is moved to the right, that is, forward (Fig. 1) until the cutting edge I! of the punch contacts the material M, the back of which is pressed against the shear plate .28. This pressure is increased by further movement of the bore rail so the spring 22 is compressed (Fig. 2). Then, by cutting in the motor 21, the push rod 25 is reciprocated. The pins 24 engaging the arms 23 of the punches, rock the punches'in an oscillatory manner so that the portion of the material M encompassed by the circular cutting edge is severed from the main body of the material. The thickness and other qualities of the material will indicate to the operator, the number of times the punches are to be oscillated to insure severance of the punchings.

The punches may be made in difierentsizes and so of course, may the shear plates. Fig. illustrates a punch of considerably larger size than the one shown in Fig. 4. It will be noted,

however, that the portion of the punch engaged over the stud I3 is identical in both forms for interchangeability.

Should the punchings, by chance, become clogged in the punch, an aperture 29 may be provided so the operator with a sharp instrument may clear the passage H3. The slope M of the stud I 3 is of a similar angle to the adjacent side of the cut-out l8 to keep the cutout clear for the passage therethrough of the punchings.

When it is desired to remove the punches, means such as the screws 30 may be loosened and the push rod slid to the left, (Fig. 3) the slot 3| permitting, until the arm 23 is angulated so the straight part of the bayonet slot 20 is in line with the pin 2|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a simple device for the purpose has been disclosed in the preferred form of its embodiment, but it is not desired to restrict the details to the exact construction shown, it being obvious that changes, not involving the exercise of invention, may be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a device of the character described, in combination, a bore rail, spaced studs, on the bore rail, a punch yieldingly mounted for oscillation on each stud, and means to oscillate the punches simultaneously.

2. In a device of the character described, in combination, a bore rail, spaced studs on the bore rail, a punch resiliently mounted for oscillation on each stud, and means to oscillate the punches simultaneously including a motor and a push rod having engagement with the punches.

3. In a device of the character described, in combination, a bore rail, spaced studs, a punch yieldingly mounted for oscillation on each stud, an arm on each punch, a push rod, means to support the push rod, pins on the push rod having engagement with the mentioned arms, and means to'reciprocate said push rod to cause oscillation of the punches.

4. In a device of the character described, in combination, a bore rail, spaced studs on the bore rail, a punch resiliently mounted for oscillation on each stud, a shear plate associated with each punch, and means to oscillate the punches simultaneously when in contact with material between them and their respective shear plates.

5. In a device of the character described, in combination with the bore rail, hangers on the bore rail, spaced studs carried by the hangers, a punch on each stud, resilient means between the bore rail and each punch, and a bayonet slot and pin connection for removable retention of each punch on its stud.

- 6. A punch for embroidery machines comprising a cylindrical body having a conical end terminating in a circular cutting edge, said conical end having an axial passage therethrough, said body having an exit opening with which the axial passage communicates, and means to direct the punchings out of the exit opening as they are pushed back by succeeding punchings.

'7. A punch for embroidery machines comprising a cylindrical body of a larger diameter at one end than at the other, a conical end terminating in a circular cutting edge on the larger portion of the punch, said conical end having an axial passage therethrough, and said larger portion having an exit opening adjacent to the conical end and with which the axial passage communicates, and means to direct the punchings out of the exit opening as they are pushed back by succeeding punchings.

VERDI ZWICKER. 

